China, South Korea, Netherlands Strong in Speed Skating at the Harbin World Winter Universiade (University Games) Photos

While the Dutch coach of the women's speed skating team was openly optimistic, the other officials and coaches avoided the "we are the champions" attitude that is so often ridiculous at every little ball field and gymnasium here in the US. The meaning of the word, champion, has been severely diluted, and especially the meaning of the phrase, champions of the wuhld!

THE BAND, QUEEN, SINGS: "We are the champions, of the zip code..."

For once, the coaches and officials of the China speed skating team are saying, yes, it's great we won plenty of Universiade events with good competition, but we only won the women's events and we didn't face the absolute top ranked skaters from some countries. We still have a lot of work to do to place in World Cup and Olympic circumstances in long track. We had one track record where World Cup events have been held, so that is a legitimate top rank result. Otherwise, good job, but let's not get crazy and think we're there. 

Of course, all of that doesn't fit in a song very well, but it sure was refreshing to hear the Bobby Cox (Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Manager) approach to post-event interviews. When they win, Bobby seems to find what they need to do better and talk about that. When they lose, Bobby seems to point out the accomplishments within the game. I think it levels the team well and is part of their long-running success under his leadership. 

    Dutchwoman Sijtle van der Lende, the first ever foreign coach of China's national speed skating team, is among the ones who hold a super confidence on China's long-course skaters.

    "I think my team can now say themselves one of the best teams in the world," she said after the host being crowned the women's team pursuit.

    "They trained under me for no more than three weeks, and I believe that these girls will be much better should they go training next year all the time."

If they only spent three weeks with her they must have had some great coaching and training already to do so well. It makes my head spin to think how good these skaters must be. But others were much more cautious and perhaps less irrationally exuberant, and perhaps protective of the athletes' long term avoidance of burnout. 

    "I have to say that the foreign coach has been over confident," said Xiao Hua, director of the Chinese Winter Sports Administrative Center's speed skating department.

    "It's still now hard for the Chinese long-course skaters to make top 20 finish in world-class tournament, say nothing of winning a medal at the Winter Olympics."

If you get a minute, read what the Chinese coaches said. They're serious about long track, and they're serious about the long view.

China keeps cool with universiade harvest on speed skating - Xinhua -

Xinhua

China keeps cool with universiade harvest on speed skating Xinhua, China 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese speed skating team kept in low key after having savored an unprecedented victory in the Harbin Winter Universiade. The host collected five gold, eight silver and three bronze medals in the speed skating competitions just ... Canada to battle for team gold at Universiade Vancouver Sun China reigns women's, S Korea edged in men's team pursuit at ... Xinhua China embraces Universiade after 60-year development of winter sports Xinhua all 22 news articles

[Speedskating & Speedskaters]